Rabat: Morocco’s interior ministry on Sunday released its first official toll regarding the recent migrant rush towards Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, reporting that 11 individuals had perished during the attempt to cross last week. According to France24.com, these figures starkly contrast with those from Spain, which claims that at least 72 people lost their lives.

The situation saw tens of thousands of aspiring migrants flooding into the territory between Wednesday and Friday, igniting a diplomatic conflict within the European Union. This incident prompted criticism from several EU member states towards Spain’s migration policies. Morocco’s interior ministry spokesman, Rachid El Khalfi, revealed that of the 11 fatalities, 10 were due to drowning, while one individual fell from a rocky area during the attempt to reach Ceuta.

Morocco is collaborating with Spain to verify the death toll and identify bodies discovered on Spanish soil. The ministry attributed the unexpected migrant surge to the “malicious exploitation” of social media and the dissemination of “misleading information.” Furthermore, it pointed to “misinterpretations of legal provisions,” specifically referencing a Spanish Supreme Court ruling from July 8, which stated that migrants arriving by sea should not be returned as swiftly as others.

The ministry also reported that there had been 40,000 attempts to cross into Ceuta illegally. Additionally, 1,135 individuals attempted to enter the Spanish territory of Melilla, located further east, but were promptly returned to Moroccan soil. Spain reported that over 60,000 individuals managed to enter Ceuta in recent days, although the majority have since returned to Morocco.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has claimed there were “nearly 130 victims,” with many more reported missing. In response to the crisis, prosecutors have launched an official investigation into the events that transpired, as stated by the ministry.